Short Stories - Literary DevisesTitle: The Most Dangerous Game
Point of View:
First person
Protagonist:
Rainsford
What type of character is the Protagonist?
Round and dynamic
Antagonist:
Zaroff
Describe the setting
The setting is somewhere in the middle of the sea, called Ship-trap Island. It was around the early late 1800s because Rainsford was not travelling with an airplane, but a ship. Over the period of Ship-trap Island, it gave a suspenseful feeling.
Type of Conflict:
Man vs Man
Describe the main conflict:
Rainsford, thrown off his boat, is trying to get back to the mainland. Zaroff, another hunter, had gotten bored of hunting animals, and moved onto humans. Zaroff said that Rainsford can go to the mainland if he can survive Zaroff for 3 days.
Describe the Climax of the Story:
The climax of the story was at the very end, when Rainsford came out of the window curtains. Everything before had just build up pressure and just before Rainsford appeared out of the curtain, there was a false relief. Once Rainsford jumped out of the cutains, the pressure continued to build up from before.
How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story?
Rainsford, at first, thought that all prey don’t have feelings. Once Zaroff begins to chase after Rainsford, he then begins to understand the feeling of being a prey.
Describe the relationship between the title and the theme.
The relation between “The Most Dangerous Game” and the theme of the hunter’s job being reversed is that the most dangerous game for a hunter is another hunter.
How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme?
The main conflict helped illustrate the theme by the fact is Rainsford was trying to run away, and while that, making many traps. The traps have weakened the hunter a lot.
How does the climax help to illustrate the theme?
The climax helped illustrate the theme because in the end, Rainsford ends up killing Zaroff, even though Zaroff was the hunter.
Give examples of each of the following literary terms in the story (use quotes):
Simile:
“Ugh! It’s like moist black velvet.”
Metaphor:
“Yes, even that tough-minded old Swede, who’d go up to the devil himself and ask for a light.”
Personification:
“Ten minutes of determined brought another to his ears-the most welcome he had ever heard-the muttering and growling of the sea breaking on a rocky shore.”
Symbol:
Pipe - Something people smoke out of.
- The whole reason Rainsford got into this mess.
Foreshadowing (give both elements):
"Under one arm he carried khaki hunting cloths, a haversack of food, a leather sheath containing a long bladed hunting knife"
-Why would they mention the knife as a separate item? They could have just said survival items. It must have some connection later on.
"But the hope that was in Rainsford’s brain when he climbed died, for he saw in the shadow valley that General Zaroff was still on his feet. But Ivan was not. The knife, driven by the recoil of the spring board tree, had not wholly failed."
-It ended up killing someone. It may not be Zaroff, but it did show significance.
Irony:
Rainsford, who did not care for his prey’s feeling, became the hunted in the exact same position as his prey.
Imagery:
“The sea was as flat as a plate-glass window.”
Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story.
The class theme relates to the story because, again, it’s all about us and our humanity.
QUESTIONS: Answer the following questions. /32
1. What is meant by “He lived a year in a minute”? /2
Time, for him, seemed to take a year in order for a minute to pass. It could also mean everything seemed to be in slow-mo and he could see every movement.
2. What is meant by “I am still a beast at bay”? /2
When you attack an animal like a bear, and they catch you, they would not just throw everything away and just leave. They would have to kill the attacker, so the attack won’t try to harm the bear again.
3. In which sea has Connell set Ship-Trap island? /1
The Caribbean sea
4. How is Zaroff able to finance his life style? /2
After the debacle in Russia, he invested in American securities. He then became rish, and could invest in his hobby.
5. If Rainsford wins the hunt, what does Zaroff promise him? /1
Zaroff promised Rainsford that he will get Rainsford onto the mainland if Rainsford wins.
6. What happened to Lazarus? /2
Someone went into the swamp and Lazarus followed. They both sank into the swamp.
7. Where does Rainsford spend the first night of his hunt? /1
Rainsford hid in a tree.
8. How many acres did Zaroff’s father have in the Crimea? /1
A quarter of a million.
9. Why does Zarroff suggest Rainsford wear moccasins? /1
Zarrof suggested Rainsford to wear moccasins because it wouldn’t as big as a trail to track as normal shoes.
10. What caused Rainsford to believe Zaroff knew he was hiding in the tree? Do you think he was right? Give reasons. /3
Zaroff climbed halfway, but then climbed back down. He then smiled, blew a smoke ring, and left. Why would he climb halfway? If he were to climg all the way and spot Rainsford, Zaroff would have no excuse to not kill Rainsford. Since Zaroff was enjoying this hunt, he did not want Rainsford to die too fast, so he climbed halfway. I believe that Rainsford was right.
11. How does Zaroff stock his island with “game”? /2
Storms sometimes sends people in. Also, he uses a tool to crush the ships, so they have no choice, but to go to Ship-trap Island.
12. What happened to General Zaroff at the end of the story? /2
Rainsford sneaks into Zaroff’s room and waits for Zaroff. They both fight to death and Zaroff dies.
13. Inspite of being hurt, Zaroff congratulates Rainsford on his “Malay mancatcher,” why? /2
Not many people knew how to make a Maylay mancatcher. Also, Zaroff was having fun not automaticly winning.
14. How do we know Rainsford is an exceptionally fit man? /2
Rainsford, without a comfy bed, survived 3 nights outdoors. Also, he swam faster than Zaroff walked on the 3rd night and fought him, so Rainsford must have a lot of strength and stamina.
15. Discuss the state of mind of Rainsford before he lands on the island versus that after he meets the General. What is different? (Especially about how he perceives animal feelings.)/5
Before Rainsford landed on the island, he believed prey has no need for emotion. He believed there was 2 classes; the hunters and the huntees. Once he came to the island, he knew exactly how the animals felt. He abandoned all thought except the ones to survive. What’s different is his of perspective. He became the huntee instead of the hunter, and changed what he thought about the prey needing no emotions.
16. How does Connell inspire fear without obvious bloodshed/grotesqueness. /3
Connell inspired fear because we did not know what was going to happen next. Also, we did not know what was going on in Zaroff’s head. Last of all, the suspense one of them dying was piling up. Completion 5/5 Effort 4/5 Content4/5 Questions 32/32 Total 45/47
Point of View:
First person
Protagonist:
Rainsford
What type of character is the Protagonist?
Round and dynamic
Antagonist:
Zaroff
Describe the setting
The setting is somewhere in the middle of the sea, called Ship-trap Island. It was around the early late 1800s because Rainsford was not travelling with an airplane, but a ship. Over the period of Ship-trap Island, it gave a suspenseful feeling.
Type of Conflict:
Man vs Man
Describe the main conflict:
Rainsford, thrown off his boat, is trying to get back to the mainland. Zaroff, another hunter, had gotten bored of hunting animals, and moved onto humans. Zaroff said that Rainsford can go to the mainland if he can survive Zaroff for 3 days.
Describe the Climax of the Story:
The climax of the story was at the very end, when Rainsford came out of the window curtains. Everything before had just build up pressure and just before Rainsford appeared out of the curtain, there was a false relief. Once Rainsford jumped out of the cutains, the pressure continued to build up from before.
How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story?
Rainsford, at first, thought that all prey don’t have feelings. Once Zaroff begins to chase after Rainsford, he then begins to understand the feeling of being a prey.
Describe the relationship between the title and the theme.
The relation between “The Most Dangerous Game” and the theme of the hunter’s job being reversed is that the most dangerous game for a hunter is another hunter.
How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme?
The main conflict helped illustrate the theme by the fact is Rainsford was trying to run away, and while that, making many traps. The traps have weakened the hunter a lot.
How does the climax help to illustrate the theme?
The climax helped illustrate the theme because in the end, Rainsford ends up killing Zaroff, even though Zaroff was the hunter.
Give examples of each of the following literary terms in the story (use quotes):
Simile:
“Ugh! It’s like moist black velvet.”
Metaphor:
“Yes, even that tough-minded old Swede, who’d go up to the devil himself and ask for a light.”
Personification:
“Ten minutes of determined brought another to his ears-the most welcome he had ever heard-the muttering and growling of the sea breaking on a rocky shore.”
Symbol:
Pipe - Something people smoke out of.
- The whole reason Rainsford got into this mess.
Foreshadowing (give both elements):
"Under one arm he carried khaki hunting cloths, a haversack of food, a leather sheath containing a long bladed hunting knife"
-Why would they mention the knife as a separate item? They could have just said survival items. It must have some connection later on.
"But the hope that was in Rainsford’s brain when he climbed died, for he saw in the shadow valley that General Zaroff was still on his feet. But Ivan was not. The knife, driven by the recoil of the spring board tree, had not wholly failed."
-It ended up killing someone. It may not be Zaroff, but it did show significance.
Irony:
Rainsford, who did not care for his prey’s feeling, became the hunted in the exact same position as his prey.
Imagery:
“The sea was as flat as a plate-glass window.”
Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story.
The class theme relates to the story because, again, it’s all about us and our humanity.
QUESTIONS: Answer the following questions. /32
1. What is meant by “He lived a year in a minute”? /2
Time, for him, seemed to take a year in order for a minute to pass. It could also mean everything seemed to be in slow-mo and he could see every movement.
2. What is meant by “I am still a beast at bay”? /2
When you attack an animal like a bear, and they catch you, they would not just throw everything away and just leave. They would have to kill the attacker, so the attack won’t try to harm the bear again.
3. In which sea has Connell set Ship-Trap island? /1
The Caribbean sea
4. How is Zaroff able to finance his life style? /2
After the debacle in Russia, he invested in American securities. He then became rish, and could invest in his hobby.
5. If Rainsford wins the hunt, what does Zaroff promise him? /1
Zaroff promised Rainsford that he will get Rainsford onto the mainland if Rainsford wins.
6. What happened to Lazarus? /2
Someone went into the swamp and Lazarus followed. They both sank into the swamp.
7. Where does Rainsford spend the first night of his hunt? /1
Rainsford hid in a tree.
8. How many acres did Zaroff’s father have in the Crimea? /1
A quarter of a million.
9. Why does Zarroff suggest Rainsford wear moccasins? /1
Zarrof suggested Rainsford to wear moccasins because it wouldn’t as big as a trail to track as normal shoes.
10. What caused Rainsford to believe Zaroff knew he was hiding in the tree? Do you think he was right? Give reasons. /3
Zaroff climbed halfway, but then climbed back down. He then smiled, blew a smoke ring, and left. Why would he climb halfway? If he were to climg all the way and spot Rainsford, Zaroff would have no excuse to not kill Rainsford. Since Zaroff was enjoying this hunt, he did not want Rainsford to die too fast, so he climbed halfway. I believe that Rainsford was right.
11. How does Zaroff stock his island with “game”? /2
Storms sometimes sends people in. Also, he uses a tool to crush the ships, so they have no choice, but to go to Ship-trap Island.
12. What happened to General Zaroff at the end of the story? /2
Rainsford sneaks into Zaroff’s room and waits for Zaroff. They both fight to death and Zaroff dies.
13. Inspite of being hurt, Zaroff congratulates Rainsford on his “Malay mancatcher,” why? /2
Not many people knew how to make a Maylay mancatcher. Also, Zaroff was having fun not automaticly winning.
14. How do we know Rainsford is an exceptionally fit man? /2
Rainsford, without a comfy bed, survived 3 nights outdoors. Also, he swam faster than Zaroff walked on the 3rd night and fought him, so Rainsford must have a lot of strength and stamina.
15. Discuss the state of mind of Rainsford before he lands on the island versus that after he meets the General. What is different? (Especially about how he perceives animal feelings.)/5
Before Rainsford landed on the island, he believed prey has no need for emotion. He believed there was 2 classes; the hunters and the huntees. Once he came to the island, he knew exactly how the animals felt. He abandoned all thought except the ones to survive. What’s different is his of perspective. He became the huntee instead of the hunter, and changed what he thought about the prey needing no emotions.
16. How does Connell inspire fear without obvious bloodshed/grotesqueness. /3
Connell inspired fear because we did not know what was going to happen next. Also, we did not know what was going on in Zaroff’s head. Last of all, the suspense one of them dying was piling up.
Completion 5/5
Effort 4/5
Content4/5
Questions 32/32
Total 45/47